jar

Meanings

Noun

• An earthenware container, either with two or no handles, for holding oil, water, wine, etc., or used for burial.
• A small, approximately cylindrical container, normally made of clay or glass, for holding fruit, preserves, etc., or for ornamental purposes.
• A jar and its contents; as much as fills such a container; a jarful.
• A clashing or discordant set of sounds, particularly with a quivering or vibrating quality.
• A quivering or vibrating movement or sensation resulting from something being shaken or struck.
• A sense of alarm or dismay.
• The effect of something contradictory or discordant; a clash.
• A disagreement, a dispute, a quarrel; contention, discord; quarrelling.

Verb

• To preserve (food) in a jar.
• To knock, shake, or strike sharply, especially causing a quivering or vibrating movement.
• To harm or injure by such action.
• To shock or surprise.
• To act in disagreement or opposition, to clash, to be at odds with; to interfere; to dispute, to quarrel.
• To (cause something to) give forth a rudely tremulous or quivering sound; to (cause something to) sound discordantly or harshly.
• To quiver or vibrate due to being shaken or struck.
• Of the appearance, form, style, etc., of people and things: to look strangely different; to stand out awkwardly from its surroundings; to be incongruent.

Related

Narrower meaning words

• cookie jar
• jam jar
• mason jar
• spice jar

Origin

• From Middle English jarre ("jar"), from Medieval Latin jarra, or from Middle French jarre ("liquid measure") (from Old French jare; modern French jarre ("earthenware jar")), or from Spanish jarra, jarro, all from Arabic جَرَّة ("earthen receptacle").
• The word is cognate with Italian giara ("jar; crock"), Occitan jarro, Portuguese jarra, jarro.
• The verb is derived from the noun.
• Perhaps imitative; the noun is derived from the verb.